Monthly Archives: April 2012

I’m using the same structure as I did last time. But, there is a slight difference. Unlike Livingstone and Johnson, Paddick has not created a set of key policies. I read his manifesto and summarised what I thought the key policies were. But, that makes this more opinion than the first two were.

-Create a new independent public commissioner for standards to enforce good policing

– Introduce new tube discounts – an “Early Bird” discount, a one hour bus ticket, and a part-timers’ travel card.

-Pay everyone working for the GLA (Greater London Authority – the people who work for the London Assembly and the Mayor) a London Living Wage. Make all companies doing work for the GLA pay a London Living Wage. Name and shame large employers who don’t pay the London Living Wage.

-Create Youth Hubs across London, open 7days/week, where young people can socialise, and receive advice or support.

–Establish a London Green Investment Bank and a London Transport Bond. (Safe places for people’s savings, investment for transport and the environment.)

-Create an extra 40,000 homes and bring 50,000 empty homes back into use. Create an on-line portal where good landlords are registered so people can find them.

OK, according to the structure I’ve used so far, next you get some information on what the candidate’s done in the past. He hasn’t had a political position before; he’s worked in the Metropolitan Police for over 30 years.

Policies he’s supported, and things he’s done…

Resigned as Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner after a well-publicised clash with the Commissioner over the police shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.[2]

Told police that people found with cannabis should be given warnings and have the drugs confiscated, instead of being arrested, as police should be dealing with serious issues (heroin, cocaine, street robbery and burglary…)[3]

Communicated directly with local people via the internet about crime and policing.[4][5][6] (First two links are the forums he was using, third is the BBC reporting on something he said on one of them)

Overall (yup, my own opinion again)

I believe that Brian Paddick’s policies are very positive for young people, in everything from crime and policing, to education and jobs, to youth-work, he’s saying positive things. I know people, however, who regret voting for Liberal Democrat candidates, as they feel the party and its members haven’t lived up to their promises. Brian Paddick has a history, in the police force, of doing and saying what he thinks is right, though, so he might be more reliable.

The London Mayoral Elections are happening on the 3rd of May. I’ve been asked, by friends and family, for information about candidates. It made me think that maybe other young people want this information too. So, over the next couple of weeks I’ll do a series of posts on all of the major candidates.

What people want is unbiased information. I can’t give you that, I don’t think anyone can. Whatever I write, even if it’s just facts, gets affected by how I think. But I’ll try to make it clear what’s fact and what’s not, add links to other people’s opinions, and links to where I get my information from.